Words compiled by Kay Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis

In a scenario long predicted as the number of mega teams have increased in the NHRA, it was teammates against teammates in all of the final round action Feb. 19 at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway outside of Phoenix. In Top Fuel it was Don Schumacher Racing, with John Force Racing dominating in Funny Car and the Summit-backed KB Racing in Pro Stock.

TOP FUEL

U.S. Army NHRA Racing Top Fuel drivers Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown continued their strong start to the 2012 drag racing season with a final-round meeting Sunday (lead photo).

Brown, aboard his Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster, edged the seven-time world champion with a 3.793-second pass at 319.82 mph to Schumacher’s 3.813-second run at 318.17 mph in his U.S. Army dragster. It was the second consecutive race Brown had advanced to the final against a Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) teammate. Last weekend at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif., Brown finished runner-up to Spencer Massey.

“After not finishing the job in the season opener, we wanted to make sure we sealed the deal here at Firebird,” said Brown, who claimed his second NHRA Arizona Nationals trophy in four years. “We knew it was going to be a tough race against Tony and the Army team. We had some terrific battles last year and it certainly wasn’t any different this time.”

“The fans definitely get their money’s worth when we face each other,” Schumacher said. “But, we’re definitely not going to hang our heads after this loss. We know we have one great racecar and we are going to win our share of races this season.”

Brown had to dispose of Terry McMillen (shown), Spencer Massey and Shawn Langdon before catching up with Schumacher.

“There aren’t any easy draws in Top Fuel anymore,” Brown said. “You have to bring your best against everyone or your day is going to end very quickly.”

“That is definitely the case,” Schumacher said. “In all my years of racing, I’ve never seen the playing field so level from a competition standpoint. We’re in the entertainment business, so that’s a good thing.”